A grassroots movement came closer than ever to achieving the decriminalization of the procedure in the homeland of Pope Francis.

In the rural community of Las Palmas, a group of former coca farmers are replacing coca production with legitimate crops in the hope of promoting peace.

On July 5, the Nicaraguan police, with masked and armed paramilitary support, attacked Sutiaba. The "clean-up operation," as the government called it, resulted in three dead among the parishioners of Father Morales' St. Peter Church.

The church has tried to play a mediating role between Ortega's Sandinista government and protesters who have increasingly demanded his ouster amid demonstrations and clashes in which about 450 people — most of them protesters — have been slain.

Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega said he will not move up elections despite street protests that have seen more than 300 deaths in the past three months, but is open to continuing a dialogue mediated by the Roman Catholic Church.